Tail-piece for banjos or violins



(No Model.)

H. C. MIDDLEBROOKE. TAIL PIEGE FOR BANJOS 0R VIOLINS.

No. 487,879. Patented Deo. 13, 1892..

@9th/moose UNITED VSTATES l PATENT OFFICE.`

HOBART C. MIDDLEBROOKE, OF ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA.

TAIL-PIECE FOR BANJOS OR VIOLINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,879, dated December 13, 1892.

Application liled September 10. 1891. Serial No. 405,267. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOBART C. MIDDLE- BROOKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Rapids, in the county of Lyons and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tail-Pieces for Banjos, Violins, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tail-pieces for stringed musical instruments, such as violins, violas,l mandolins, banjos, guitars, &c.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure lis a perspective view of a tail-piece embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side or edge view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a view of the anchoring or fastening plate detached. Fig. 4 is a view of the string-spacing plate.

The tail-piece A is provided on its top side between its ends with a rearwardly-curved flange b, which is provided with a series of string-receiving notches b and at its front end with a series of string-spacing hooks el.

The tail-piece, the flange b, and the hooks d may be integral and formed of metal or other suitable material; but it has been found that the best results have been obtained by constructing the tail-piece of wood and the parts b and d of metal, the latter being secured to the tail-piece in any substantial manner that may be found most convenient. The spacing-hooks d are formed on the front edge of plate D, and the latter is fitted in a rabbet at the front end of and riveted to the tailpiece. The flange b is formed by recurving the front end of a plate B, the latter approxistrings having knots in their ends are inserted in the notches b', the -recurved liange b serving t-o conceal the knots, and engaged with the hooks d, the latter holding the strings at the proper distance apart and close to the sounding-board of the instrument. Obviously the hooks are so constructed as not to cut or otherwise injure the strings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tail-piece for a stringed musical instrument, having on its top side between its ends a rearwardly-curved liange which is notched to receive the strings and having hooks at its front end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A tail-piece formed of wood and having on its top side between its ends a rearwardlycurved fiange which is notched to receive the strings and having hooks at its front end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A tail-piece for a stringed musical instrument, composed of a wooden piece A, a metal plate B, secured to the piece A and having its front end reeurved and notched, and a plate D, fastened to the front end of the wooden piece A and having hooks d, substantially as set forth.

4E. A metal plate to be attached to a tailpiece, having hooks at its front edge in the plane of the said plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HO BART C. MIDDLEBROOKE.

Witnesses:

J. I. TAYLOR, S. Q. FAIRLAMB. 

